Joe Walsh and Jimmy Page - first meeting in 1969 - complete story 

Criminally underrated and among the smoothest guitar players you'll ever listen to. Love Joe Walsh.

I've went around Joe off and on since I was a teen(road work man) and he is by far one the most down to earth and genuine guys I had ever met working .class act

I've known Joe since the days he played with the Measles. Great guy great sense of humor. He came back to Kent to visit a mutual friend. My 6 yr old daughter and I had stopped by not knowing Joe was there. Joe sat with us and talked he was so nice to my daughter. He played and made her laugh. Truly a good man, bless you Joe Walsh.

I saw an interview with Joe and he said that after he got sober he had to learn how to do everything like shopping and doing his laundry without his best friend. When asked who his best friend was, he replied. "A bottle of vodka".

I saw Joe and the James Gang perform in 1971, and I was blown away by their performance, especially Joe's guitar work. Amazing. Seen him since - he just gets Better!!

Awesome story! Could you imagine Led Zepplin and The James Gang together in concert! 😎✌❤

The FIRST live music I ever heard was Zep, with Jimmy playing that #1. I was about 30' from the band, and it blew my little teen-aged mind. Not long after I saw the James Gang in a tiny club, and was perhaps 10' from Joe. Again, it was transformative!

One night in 1969, I went to a club called The Freak Out near Youngstown, Ohio. I was a guitar player in a local band. I went to hear Phil Kaeggy, an amazing young local phenom on the guitar. For whatever reason, Joe Walsh was there. Phil invited him to the stage to jam with his group, The Glass Harp. I don’t remember how long they played together, but I do remember it was such and amazing exhibition of guitar playing, by both guys, that I realized my future was NOT in rock music.

Joe and Gary Moore are the two reasons I play guitar. Huge influences in my life. I'm thankful that Joe found sobriety as I did. Otherwise we'd both be dead.. He has a beautiful unique style. I can pick him off with the first bar of a song. God has blessed Him.

Joe is one of my favorite comedian's and guitar players.

Great shit man!! I live in NEO for 65 years. Joe worked a summer at Henry’s Music in Barberton Ohio and his picture was on the wall for decades. He taught guitar lessons there and was a local hero in Kent. My now deceased buddy once played guitar at a bar in Kent and Joe and the band came in to hang out ..Joe asked my buddy if they could jam on their stuff and of course he said go for it. What a thrill. Great video… thank you.

Joe just seems like a good guy

I fell in love with the sunburst LP because of Jimmy Page... There isn't a guitar made before or since that's as beautiful as a Sunburst LP, imo

Ahhh YES .. Mr. Joe Walsh .. my absolute favorite rock guitar personality & one of my favorite guitarist. Man it'd be great to hang with him for a lil while. He's seems to be a lotta fun & a hoot to boot!!! Thnx❣️🤘🏼✌🏼

Excellent video. My only criticism is the opening statement: "Guitar legend Joe Walsh became one of Rock & Roll's finest guitarists even before he joined the Eagles." I remember the disappointment I felt when I learned Joe had joined the Eagles! To me, it was a huge step DOWN for Joe. After he taught the Eagles how to play guitar, they each adopted many aspects of his style, and you can hear Joe's influence on all of their material.

Joe Walsh is a cool guy and revered by many professional guitarists ! Jimmy Page is pretty effing awesome too. I knew most of this story, but learned some of the finer details here. Thanks for this ! Long live rock and roll !

I think the great "untold" story about Led Zeppelin is just how much their American peers contributed to their "sound"--and I don't just mean blues and rockabilly! Just as Carmine Appice turned John Bonham onto the wonders of Ludwig drums, so Joe Walsh turned Jimmy Page onto Gibson guitars for good. Both came as a result of tours with the James Gang and the Vanilla Fudge respectively. Imagine if Page had recorded all those albums still playing the Telecaster and Carmine Appice never got John Bonham that Ludwig sponsorship. Those future Led Zeppelin albums may not have sounded as good as they could have. But those American guys knew how and where to get the right gear! It was only Britain who had the right amps--MARSHALL!

It's funny how I always hear such good stories about Joe Walsh he is no doubt a great person. he struggled a little bit when he was drinking but he has gotten sober. and it's clear to tell he is so much happier. besides being an AWESOME guitarist he is a great guy and his life long friendship with Jimmy page is proof of that no doubt.

Totally off topic, but I was born and raised in Athens, Oh (1962), and Joe's So What album is one of the first albums I ever heard in 74. Rock on, Joe 😎

Wow! Wat a story. I'm so impressed. Always been a big fan of Joe particularly when he was doing his own thing. Never heard of this connection before. Fancy, Joe was responsible for "selling" Jimmy the "axe" of the Gods! Honestly, I'm just absolutely wowed! Nothing happens by chance! Everything "is" connected! Some call this stuff God's work? Depends on your definition of God. Call it what you like, it exists! My love to both Joe & Jimmy.

I think it is so cool that these two guys are friends it’s nice when musicians help each other out the Beatles the Eagles and Led Zeppelin all were a part of the reason why I started playing guitar but Chet Atkins was another one that inspired me also along with my old dear friend Johnny fortune sell hats off to you guys you’re great and I still listen do you today love it thanks for all you do for society and recording industry you guys are fantastic🎸👍🏼👍🏼😎😄🍻

What a great story. I like both Jimmy and Joe. They certainly know how to ROCK. Great story. Thanks

Jimmy Page played a Les Paul many years before he met Walsh. It's what he used in the studio. Yer' Album was all done on a Telecaster. Rides Again was the James Gang's biggest album and best studio album. That's the one that broke them nationally. In any case it was Walsh and Page that got me wanting a Les Paul; in fact, I didn't know what they were until I got into those groups. It'd been SGs, 335s, and Strats up til then. Joe sold that LP to Jimmy for $1200.

Great ! Knew snippets over the years. This "Brings It All Home" :)

Nice footage and explanation of the story! Love the Joe Walsh James Gang stuff, especially Yer Album and Rides Again. 😎

I saw Joe Walch with Ringo's all stars band in Montreux, where they played desperado, with joe on vocals and lead.

Page's Tele was a gift from Jeff Beck for recommending Beck for the Yardbirds. Page repainted it .

Awesome to hear the whole story on that including about the black beauty. Joe Walsh used to play in my home town, but sadly I was only 13 in 1970 and too young to go bar hopping in Kent.

I finally got to see Joe at Paul McCartney's Dodger stadium concert in 2018. He got up and played with Paul and Ringo. So cool.

Don’t get no better than that! Two Gods of rock n roll!! 👍🎸❤️

Joe Walsh - The scariest thing that ever happened to me was that Keith Moon decided he liked me. LOL

We used to watch Funk 49 over & over & over on VHS. Over & over. Joe Walsh, James Gang.

Jimmy did, in fact, get the Black Beauty back a couple years ago. There is a blow-by-blow account of how it happened in Vintage Guitar magazine. Love both these guys. Hard to overstate the impact they've had on modern music.

I didn't know that The James Gang performed with Led Zeppelin. COOL!

Great Story about these two great musicians! Thank You.

I remember when I first heard Joe was joining the Eagles. I thought how's this gonna work? What did I know? Love you Joe!!!

Keep more vids like this coming! Takes me back - way back - to simpler/better times and guitars and their pickers!

Great job, really enjoyed this short documentary.

I’ve heard bits and pieces of this story before, glad to finally hear the whole tale in one setting. Thanks for posting!

Love the coverage on this topic! Thank YOU!

Joe Walsh also turned Glass Harp guitarist Phil Keaggy onto the Les Paul one night when he showed up at JB's at Kent State in Cleveland with his band The James gang with the 1st Les Paul he ever owned. After Joe's set Phil went up to Joe and said, "Oh, wow... Joe your sound is incredible!" Joe handed Phil his Les Paul and said, "Here kid, be my guest, give it a dance - play your set with it." The next day Phil went to a music store and bought his 1st Les Paul and it became the trademark sound of Glass Harp's music from that moment on. Phil was 18 years old at the time! He and Joe have remained good friends through the years and both of them running mates with drummer Joe Vitale.

I'm loving these videos. Thank you!

Great video! Joe and Jimmy are my two favorite guitarist!

Great story. JW and James Gang and early solo stuff is epic. JW and JP are two of the nicest individuals ever.

What a cool story. I can't believe I've never heard it before.

Joe is indeed one of the greats. What tells you that: like all the greats, a few notes and you know who it is.

Great story, thanks for sharing. Certainly recognized Shawn's voice.

Wow thank you for posting that up for us to see .Awesome!!!!

Jimmy Page said “I’m in big trouble” ?? He was never in trouble.....Page did just fine with that Tele. He continued using a Tele throughout Zeppelin, stuff played on that Tele is often confused as being his Les Paul.

Joe had the guitar set up in Akron at Lay's Guitar before he gave it to Jimmy, from what I read somewhere. The work was done by Virgil Lay. He was a wonderful guitar repairman and a really nice guy. He had a picture of himself holding the Les Paul Log hanging up in the shop.

There's a little bit more to that story, most of which happened right here in Kent, Ohio. At the time,, the James Gang were the house band at a tiny club called JB's. Rumor has it that several Zeppelin members made an appearance there (with Walsh) after their show at "Musicarnival" in Cleveland. That night must have been legendary.

Joe Walsh sold Jimmy Page the Les Paul he always used? WOW! That's even cooler.

James Gang - one great band.

Great story. Heard it before. I never understood the part about Page needing a Les Paul because the Tele did not have the power. Page tells Joe that LPs are not in England etc etc all the while Page had his “Black Beauty” since the early 60’s ? Page’s black LP appears to have THREE Humbuckers. He used it for the 1970 RAH show.

Years and years ago l was watching an awards show on tv, the camera paned over to Joe's table, it was covered with booze bottles. Everyone that was sitting at that table were gone somewhere except for Joe. He was the only one sitting at that table with all the booze bottles. Rock on 🤘JOE🤘

Eric Clapton gave Jimmy Page the Black Beauty that Jimmy kept at home. and Jimmy inherited the Telecaster from Jeff Beck when Beck left the Yardbirds and began playing a Les Paul in his Solo career

I saw joe walsh in may 1968 when the James Gang opened for the Yardbirds at the Mentor Hullabaloo in Ohio and Jimmy Page was in the band .I can't believe he didn't meet him then.

wow, what a story. Seen Joe once back in '12 ( I believe ) on his solo tour. he just put out a new release record called "Analog Man".

I saw him with Barnstorm many years ago!! MAGICAL!!!!

Thanks for making this informative and interesting video

Very interesting, thanks for sharing this with us Kar.

Awsome Kar !! I love joe Walsh !!! thanks for this story !! Page , Clapton .... they are really right , cool to hear the story , i did not know his early story !! Rock on !!!

Imagine you watch the Beatles on Ed Sullivan and decide to become a musician, then 45 years later Ringo is your brother in law! Life has a lot of twists and turns and you never know how it’s going to happen?

Joe also gave a 3-10 Fender Bandmaster and a Gretsch 6120 to Pete Townsend that became the sound of "Won't Get Fooled Again". Walsh has been credited as one of the foremost guitar and guitar sound recording gurus in rock history. Get'em Joe!

Great video, great channel. Also, Walsh is in my top 3. \m/

I used to see James Gang playing in Columbus, Oh in the late 1960’s at least a 8 or 9 times a year. Good times!

Yeah there’s two good all great guitars right there 🎸🎼🎶☮️✌🏻😀👍🏼👍🏼

I seen Joe in 86 or 87 at the metro zoo in Miami tHere were hundreds of kegs at the show and everyone was shit faced but nobody was as much as joe! True story

I drank with Joe Walsh for about an hour and didn't know who he was 😆

Nice job. I love Walsh and i love my Les Paul. Cheers!!!

I will forget my 25th wedding anniversary, but this is the type of information that remains in my head ready to be revealed the next time I want to impress my wife with my vast knowledge.

Like all your work, perfect. I wish Anger forgive Jimmy but.... Thank you so much

Great story, love it!

I saw the James Gang in 1969 as a local band and they kicked some ass for all regional songs.

Stories such as this convince no 1959 Les Paul second owner ever went to a shop to buy one. These guitars were found in basements, under beds, in barns, or at Auntie Mathilda's annual yard and bake sale. Also, there were just three '59s made and two are owned by Billy Gibbons and Jimmy Page.

Both of them great players and both sober

I love Joe Walsh's playing style. He's a slide guitar grandmaster and I've never been able to play slide quite that well myself even after 40 plus years as a guitarist. I aslo love his vocals. At least for me personally, his vocals with the Eagles defines their sound. A lot of folks would probably argue with me on that and say Henley, or maybe Glenn defines it, and they would be right,. but to me it's Joe.

Great!!!

I wish these good ol boys would colaberat one more time on record...

Ah, Kent state. I bagged 4 that day. There's nothing like hippie hunting! My dad used to always take me along with Lee Harvey Oswald.

Jimmy struggled for a long time to find a second 'burst. He bought one in Seattle while on tour but it turned out to be stolen and got returned to the owner in a short time. He was gifted a red Les Paul by Gibson before he got #2, This guitar can be seen in The Song Remains the Same movie during some segments. He did eventually acquire a second 'burst.

Never knew this story and that's funny because years ago I used to tell people that these were two of my favorite guitarist.

Joe's in my all-time top 3.

Two guitarists I’m so glad I saw live

What are great story... Thought I knew more About Music ....Joe Walsh jimmy page huh.. Lee Paul... Just look at their photos together smiling ... Two cheshire cats

Hmmmm.. something about the sequencing of the black beauty loss and 59 sunburst acquisition seems foggy and confusing.. dazed and confused if you will! Also, the omission in this video of the fact that Gibson didn't make Les Pauls (at least as we know 'em) from what, '61 to '68-ish explains why they were uh.. um.. hard to come by at least in the UK? Change my mind! Great video by the way!

Joe seems to be a pretty down to earth and classy guy.

Great episode & great content....

What an incredible story!!

I had a Joe Walsh check. It was a 500 dollar local high school donation. And it had Joe's montecito address on it

I saw the James Gang with ZZ Top in 1973 in Providence R I. James Gang opened for ZZ Top great concert

Great story, thanks.

Wonderful information! Thanks

Great back story.....stuff you never hear about

I went to the audio video annex on our Air Force base, with my roommate in the U.K. I bought a Vox bass guitar , which I never bothered to learn - folly of a lazy youth, and my roomie drooled over a brand new black beauty Les Paul. They were asking a little over $900 which was way to rich for an airman's wallet. But he did already have a nice Stratocaster, so that was cool.

I may have been snoozing at some point and abit confused. What guitar did Jimmy Page use after his LP was lifted? Or did he bounce around to different brands? Great music docu btw 👀👍

I love stuff like this

so joe walsh _and_ chrissie hynde were at kent state during the shooting? wow

Don Felder played the Hotel California in a relaxing manner.

Good stuff here, but it wasn't like Page was isolated and stuck without a Les. He was still playing his Tele and his buddy, Joe, thought he needed to broaden his sound with the humbucker configuration. So, Joe flew to England and hand-delivered that Les to Page. He only asked $1,500 because that's what the trip cost him. You can hear Joe say this himself in interviews.